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Blue River Community Foundation: BRCF 2025 March Newsletter
March 2025 
PROVIDING BOOKS TO SHELBY COUNTY'S CHILDREN
The Impact of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program
Over the past 30 years, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library has gifted over three million books across five countries, including the United States, to children registered in their program. A registration provides a child with an age appropriate book each month from birth to the age of 5. In Shelby County alone, 74,278 books have been mailed to 3,265 individual children since the program has been offered to our community in 2007.
LEARN MORE 2025 SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS
Nominations Now Accepted
Nominations for the 2025 Spirit of Community Awards are now being accepted. If you know an individual, family, company, or nonprofit making a lasting impact on Shelby County’s future through service and philanthropy, we encourage you to submit a nomination. Award recipients of both categories will receive $1,000 to donate to a Shelby County nonprofit of their choice. Submit your nomination or learn more below!
NOMINATE/LEARN MORE SERVE SHELBY AWARDS $500
Random Acts of Kindness Drawing Winner Announced
Leading up to Random Acts of Kindness Day, Serve Shelby (a BRCF iniatitive) offered Nonprofits / Charitable Organizations who serve Shelby County, Indiana a chance at a $500 donation! Anyone could nominate an organization between February 8-14 via a simple, anonymous form; 24 nonprofits were nominated. Shelbyville First Church of God was drawn as the winner on February 17. CONGRATULATIONS!
BRCF SCHOLAR ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Stewart Douglas
Graduating from Waldron Jr./Sr. High School in 2019, Stewart Douglas’s dream of attending Purdue University became a reality with the help of Blue River Community Foundation when he was awarded the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Shelby County. This scholarship helped to alleviate the financial burden of attending college for Stewart and his family. While at Purdue, he studied Agricultural Economics and minored in Crop Science.
READ MORE INVESTING IN LOCAL NONPROFITS
2025 Designated Grants Distributed
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, 66 designated funds are providing over $698,000 in annual support to 40 nonprofits this year. These designated funds ensure sustainable funding for vital programs and services offered by nonprofits, making a lasting impact in our community. Learn more about BRCF designated funds HERE.
GRANT LISTING DON'T MISS OUT! 1:1 MATCH OPPORTUNITY
Support Creative Placemaking
Interested in supporting more public art and placemaking projects like the ones shown above? Your donation can help bring even more meaningful efforts to life in Shelby County. Plus, thanks to Lilly Endowment Inc.’s GIFTVIII initiative, every contribution will be matched 1:1—doubling your impact! Let’s keep building a more beautiful and vibrant community together. LEARN MORE BRCF COMMUNITY GRANT CYCLE 2025
Grant Interest Form Deadline - TODAY!
BRCF is currently accepting grant interest forms for the 2025 Community Grant Cycle. Submissions are due today. BRCF welcomes proposals addressing a broad range of initiatives and opportunities to serve the community during this grant cycle. Grant requests may range from $2,500-$25,000. We encourage and give preference to proposals which focus on the following:- New or innovative programs that serve a broad spectrum of community members
- Projects that strive to serve/engage new or underserved populations
- Collaborative projects across various disciplines
- Projects that are impactful and transformational
- Programs that show sustainability
- Grant funds will clearly help the group or organization pursue strategic plan objectives that advance long-term institutional vitality and/or program quality
APPLY NOW IN MEMORY OF OUR LOVED ONESAt the request of friends and family, BRCF is honored to accept memorial gifts to the following funds: 
DONATE 
Jacqueline Lux Memorial Scholarship
for Exceptional Young Women Fund
Type: Scholarship Fund
In memory of Jacqueline Scarborough Lux
1995 - 2025DONATE 
Tom Hession Memorial Fund or
Tom Hession Baseball Scholarship Fund
Type: Community (Unrestricted) Fund/Scholarship Fund
In memory of Loita Ann Hession
1939 - 2025DONATE (community fund) DONATE (scholarship fund) 
Ben Ernstes Community Fund
Type: Community (Unrestricted) Fund
In memory of Lydia A. Phillips
1955 - 2025DONATE NEW FUNDS ESTABLISHED
SHS Cheer Fund
Type: Designated FundThe Shelbyville High School (SHS) Cheer Fund provides financial support to the SHS cheer program through an annual grant to the Golden Bear Booster Club. This funding helps cover various expenses, including signs, senior banners, spirit signs, summer cheer camp, and equipment upgrades. DATES & DEADLINES TO KNOW 
March 1 - Community Grant Interest Forms Deadline
March 12 - BRCF Office Closed until noon; Strategic Planning Meeting
April 1 - Community Grant Cycle Applications DueBRCF INITIATIVES 
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library program provides a free book monthly for children ages 0-5. BRCF administers this opportunity in Shelby County thanks in part to the Shelby County Imagination Library fund established by donors.
LEARN MORE and/or REGISTER
Serve Shelby is a centralized source for nonprofits to connect with the community and for volunteers to discover ways to share their time and talent. Sign up for the monthly newsletter. 
Copyright © *|2025|* *|Blue River Community Foundation|*, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Blue River Community Foundation
54 W. Broadway Street, Suite 1
Shelbyville, IN 46176
P: 317.392.7955
Hours: M-F, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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